Historical version 1 of Cafe Provencal, SE24 9HU (view current version)

  • 0207 978 9228
  • 2-6 Half Moon Ln, Herne Hill, SE24 9HU
  • @cafeprov
  • Tuesday - Saturday 9am - 11pm; Sunday 9am - 5pm, closed Mondays

Small restaurant in Herne Hill. They are currently closed on Mondays. Weekends are very busy, with booking recommended.

Bec has been a regular visitor, once for burger night and several times for brunch. On a burger night, I had the vegetarian Sloppy Joe (hot lentils, cheese, little gem lettuce and salsa) without cheese - most of the vegetarian mains can be made vegan by omission. The burger was quite difficult to eat, the brioche bun lacking structural integrity causing the contents to slide out, so it became more of a fork and knife effort, but worth it - flavoursome and filling, served with crispy, hot chips.

On another visit, the full veggie/vegan - eggs poached or scrambled, substituted with spinach for vegan, Portobello mushrooms, roasted peppers, fresh grilled tomatoes and avocado with toast (£8.75) was good and a generous portion, although no substitutions were offered.

On a November 2017 visit, I had crushed avocado, listed on the menu as served with eggs, walnuts & chilli oil (£7.45). I substituted beans which were served in a ramekin, piping hot. The chili oil was just enough to add a spikey bite, liberally sprinkled with crushed walnuts; this added a depth and crunch, and was very good. Steve had banana pancakes with streaky bacon and maple syrup (£6.95), served with creme fraiche - this was good though the pancakes were rather small and the creme fraiche seemed unnecessary. Cappuccinos (£2.5) were served in mismatched, vintage cups, rather small, with plenty of froth and chocolate dusting.

There is one customer toilet, rather cramped. Highchairs are available.

Bec's verdict: Good quality food in a relaxed, cosy environment with exceptionally friendly staff, and a firm favourite.

This is version 1 (as of 2017-11-19 17:15:54). View current version.